BoatDealerOnline

It is possible to determine the value of a boat by yourself before buying or selling. Besides having a general idea of the market value for the kind ob vessel, it is fundamental to know what to look for. This ten point checklist tells you about the most important factors that may affect the end price of that boat or yacht:

1) Start with the boat hull and understructure. Are there any scrapes, cracks, signs of badly executed repairs, or fading? All these will negatively impact the boat value. Please note that the hull is best examined with the boat out of the water.

2) Check the fittings and hatches: Check any deck or hull fittings to ensure that they are in good condition, fit well, function correctly and, where they go the hull, are watertight. Open and close all hatches to see if they're in good working order and that they don't show signs on water ingress inside. If they do, it can mean that they're not watertight. Open and close any/all sea cocks to check that they're easy to operate and are watertight when closed.

3) Now it's the time to check the engine block, including transmissions and steering. Look at the state of maintenance of all the electrical and liquid cables, and of the transmission. The latter should be smooth, and easily switch from forward to neutral to back. The color of the engine oil is a potential indicator of engine problems.

4) Test electrics & switches: Test anything that has a switch or a handle, to see that they function correctly, in particular navigation lights, horn, bilge pumps, internal lights, winches, heating, generator, cooking facilities, taps, toilets. Also check all electrical cabling, looking for any signs of repair, temporary fixes, rust and loose connections.

5) Check the bilges for watermarks and signs of oil leaks: Check the bilges, beneath the engine for water ingress and for oil. If oil is present, it's a sign of an engine oil leak. Also look for water stain lines inside the boat or inside any engine compartment. If they exist, it would indicate that there has been some kind of flooding.

6) Now revisit all the external surfaces, from the deck to the inner furnishings, and also all the upholstery. Are there any problems that may result in a lower value of the boat? What is the status of repair of all these items?

7) What condition is the woodwork in? You should especially be on the outlook for any damp spots; in general these are darker than the surrounding wood and will be soft to touch. Do also check for warped, chipped and loose woodwork.
If the boat you are evaluating is a sailing yacht, check the sails and rigging. Everything should be in good condition, including the spares. Unfold and unfurl everything. If any repairs have been made on the sails, check their quality.

9) Are accessories included? If yes, what equipment is on board? Check whether accessories and other equipment are part of the deal. The new owner is going to need them anyway, so it's usually of advantage to both parties to include them (unless the seller needs them for another boat).

10) Don't neglect to look at the safety equipment. Not only do you want to ensure that it's present and in good order, but its state of maintenance will shed light on the care that the previous owner put into the boat, which is an important consideration for boat evaluation.